Objective Duchenne muscular dystrophy(DMD)is one of the most common X-linked recessive neuromuscular degeneration diseases.It is caused by genetic defects of dystropin gene with deletion,duplication,or point mutation that results in clinical muscle fatigue and dystrophy.Usually,gene deletion of one or a few exons of dystrophin accounts for about 55%～65% patients,duplication for about 5%～10% patients and point mutation for 25%.Most of hot-spot deletion mutation of DMD can be detected by multiplex PCR and the point mutation can be detected by PCR/sequencing analysis,however,it remains a challenge to detect duplication.The recently developed MLPA(multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification)is an efficient procedure that can accurately analyze the copy number and deletion mutation of whole dystropin gene.Methods A validation for simultaneous detection of entire dystropin gene was performed with two reactions.Both of which detect 39 and half exons of dystrophin gene.Results Nine out of 15 patients with DMD were found to have deletion mutation in different exons of dystrophin gene.Among these 9 patients,7 were found having deletion previously with multiplex PCR for mutation of hot-spot by Peking Union Medical University.Two patients who had not been found deletion by multiplex PCR were shown to have rare deletion at exon 18 or 43 in this study.Conclusions MLPA provides a simple,rapid and accurate method of simultaneously detecting homozygous,heterozygous deletions and duplication mutation in two single reactions for all exons of dystrophin gene,which may be applied into clinical molecular analysis for DMD.

Objective To investigate the correlation between food intolerance and Henoch-Sch(o)nlein purpura (HSP) in children and the efficacy of food forbidden or alternative therapy. Methods The levels of IgG against several common food in serum obtained from 40 children with HSP were measured by ELISA. The efficacy of food forbidden or alternative food therapy was assessed after 3 months. Results Total positive rate of serum food-intolerant IgG antibodies in HSP children was 92.5%. Among these 14 intolerant foods, the positive percentage of egg was the highest (33.8%), followed by tomato (14.9%), milk (13.5%) and morrhua (12.2%). Significant differences of the sort and degree of food intolerance existed among different age groups (t=2.257, P=0.045), but not between boys and girls (t=1.053, P=0.315), city and countryside (t= 1.388, P=0.193). There was no linear correlation between total food intolerance and serum IgG level (t=0.793, P=0.445). Food intolerance had no direct relation to immune complex deposition in kidneys of HSP nephritis (r =-0.262, P =0.387). The efficacy of adjusting diet was 95% . Conclusions HSP is closely related to food intolerance. Egg is the most common intolerant food. Food forbidden or alternative therapy shows acceptable efficacy in the treatment of most Henoch-Sch(o)nlein purpura children.

Objective To investigate the right ventricular morphology and function of patients with atrial septal defects by single beat real-time three-dimensional echocardiography.Methods Thirty-four healthy volunteers and twenty-seven ASD patients were enrolled consecutively as normal controls and the ASD group respectively.Single cardiac cycle real-time three dimensional echocardiography was performed in all to evaluate parameters concerning modality and systolic function of participants' right ventricle.The relationship of indexed right ventricular end diastolic volume (IEDVRV) and end systolic volume(IESVRV)with mean pulmonary arterial pressure measured through cardiac catheter and systolic pulmonary artery pressure calculated though the three tricuspid regurgitation were observed.Results Indexed right ventricular end diastolic volume (IEDVRv),end systolic volume(IESVRV),right ventricular stroke volume (ISVRV) and right ventrieular ejection fraction (RVEF) were greater in the ASD group than in controls (P ＜ 0.05).IEDVRv and IESVRV had positive relation with pulmonary pressure measured by cardiac catheter and systolic pulmonary artery pressure calculated though the three tricuspid regurgitation.Conclusions Single cardiac cycle real-time three dimensional echocardiography has an obvious advantage than normal test in evaluating the change of the right ventricular function and shapes,furthermore,single cardiac cycle real-time three dimensional echocardiography can indirectly determined the pressure of the pulmonary without wound.

Auxotrophic strains of N1-37 (Phe-) and N2-27 (His-), screened from mutations of Paenibacillus polymyxa JSa-9 previously, were used as the parent strains to screen high-producing LI-F antibacterial lipopeptide fusion strain through protoplast fusion with polyethylene glycol as a promote agent. Fusion strain F5-15 was obtained. Then the product of LI-F antibacterial lipopeptide was quantified by HPLC, and the difference of expression of the key genes of lipopeptide synthase between wild strain JSa-9 and the fusion strain was analyzed by real-time PCR. LI-F antibacterial lipopeptide yield of the fusion strain F5-15 was 3.1-fold of the original strain JSa9's, and the expression levels of the target genes were 10.48, 2.48, 2.1 and 11.8 fold of the initial strain JSa-9, respectively.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; biosynthesis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Lipopeptides ; biosynthesis ; Paenibacillus ; metabolism ; Protoplasts ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical effects between ginger-partition moxibustion combined with glucocorticoid and simple oral glucocorticoid for thyreoitis at subacute stage.

METHODSEighty-one patients were randomly divided into an observation group (41 cases) and a control group (40 cases). In the observation group, ginger-partition moxibustion and hormone were applied. Moxa cones were used at local ashi points, Zusanli (ST 36), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Qihai (CV 6), six cones every point, once every other day and three times a week. Besides, 24 mg methylprednisolone tablets were adopted orally every day, and in two weeks the dose was 16 mg/d, in four weeks 8 mg/d, in six weeks 4 mg/d; all the patients were observed for 8 week. In the control group, simple methylprednisolone was prescribed orally, and the dose, the usage and treatment time were the same as those in the observation group. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxin (T4) and ultra-sensitive thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) before and after treatment were observed in the two groups, as well as fever, the pain of thyroid gland, the regression time of swelling and adverse reaction.

RESULTSThe time of thyroid gland pain relieved of the observation group was earlier than that of the control group [(3.07 ± 0.78) days vs (3.62 ± 0.92) days, P < 0.05]. After treatment, T3, T4 and ESR were declined apparently (all P < 0.01), and TSH was obviously increased in the two groups (both P < 0.01). After 2-week treatment, ESR in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). After 4-week treatment, T3, T4, TSH and ESR in the observation group were better than those in the control group (all P < 0.05). After 8 weeks, all indices in the observation group were superior to those in the control group, without statistical significance between the two groups (all P > 0.05). The effects of the observation group in 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks were better than those in the control group (all P < 0.05). The cured course was shorter in the observation group than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The adverse reaction rate in the observation group was lower than that in the control group [4.9% (2/41) vs 22.5% (9/40), P < 0.05]. Three months later after treatment, the cured patients were followed. There was no recrudescence in the observation group and three patients caught the disease again in the control group, but there was no statistical significance between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGinger-partition moxibustion combined with glucocorticoid achieves better effect than simple oral glucocorticoid for thyreoitis at subacute stage, and the adverse reaction is less, which presents the clinical advantages of the integration of Chinese and western medicine.

Adult ; Female ; Ginger ; chemistry ; Glucocorticoids ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Thyroid Gland ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Thyroid Hormones ; metabolism ; Thyroiditis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; therapy ; Thyrotropin ; metabolism ; Young Adult

A variety of molecular imaging techniques based on the molecular mechanisms of vulnerable plaques, including positron emission tomography (PET) can identify the vulnerable plaque of the guilty carotid artery in cerebrovascular events and thus provide more detailed information for the risk assessment of stroke. This article reviews the molecular mechanisms and molecular imaging evaluation techniques of vulnerable carotid plaques.

Objective:To prepare the egg yolk immunoglobulin Y ( IgY) against human Sucrase and study its stability,in vitro activity. Methods:Hy-line laying hens were immunized with human Sucrase protein,IgY was isolated and purified from egg yolks of im-munized hens using water dilution and salting out method. Indirect ELISA was used to evaluate the titer and stability of IgY. The purity and specificity of IgY were analysed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot respectively. The inhibitory effects of IgY on α-glucosidase was studied by PNPG method. Results:Indirect ELISA results showed IgY could be detected on the tenth day after the first immunization, and the peak titer of IgY was 1:12 800 after the 40th day of immunization. SDS-PAGE showed that the heavy chain and light chain of IgY were 65 kD and 25 kD respectively, and the IgY against human Sucrase could specifically recognize the protein of human Sucrase. The IgY maintained primary titer when it was kept between 29-69℃ for 15 min,and pH 4-7,37℃,4 h. The titer of IgY was maintained 50% after digestion by pepsin and trypsin respectively for 2 hours. IgY had a higher resistence to pepsin than trypsin after longer digestion time. IgY showed an inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase in concentration dependent manner. The half inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 0. 540 mg/ml. Conclusion:The IgY against human Sucrase has been successfully obtained,which established foundations for its study of Type 2 diabetes mellitus rat models in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an important component of the in vivo microenvironment and act on multiple biological behaviors of tumor cells. The potential clinical value of MSCs has become an issue of concern in recent years.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the gene expression profiles of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cell line NB4 treated with umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs) using cDNA microarray.METHODS: In vitro co-culture system was constructed, and then cellular proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation status of NB4 cells treated with UC-MSCs were evaluated. Two cDNA probes were prepared through reverse transcription from mRNA of NB4 cells treated with or without UC-MSCs. The probes were labeled with fluorescence dyes individually, hybridized with cDNA microarray, and their fluorescent intensities were scanned. The genes were screened through the analysis of the difference in two gene expression profiles.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: UC-MSCs promoted the proliferation and differentiation, while reduced the apoptosis of NB4 cells. The analysis of gene expression profiles indicated that after co-culture with UC-MSCs, 530 genes were up-regulated and 53 genes were down-regulated. Accordingly, specific gene function and pathway signaling related were also regulated to some extent. Overall, UC-MSCs influence can major biological behaviors of NB4 cells by changing expression of a large amount of genes, gene-related function and multiple intracellular signaling pathways.

OBJECTIVE To study the risk factors and protection measures for the occupational exposure to HBV,and reduce the occupational exposure risk of blood.METHODS A survey was carried out among 1352 medical staff.And then we carried on the analysis to 43 questions of it and used Logistic regression analytic method to find out the risk factors and protective measures.RESULTS Seventy one persons had occuptional exposure risk to HBV and 56 persons had needle puncture wound or sharp wound.The risk factors included needle puncture wound or sharp wound,blood contaminated skin and mucous membrane,and the long working life.While knowledge of infection control,protection consciousness,washing hands,using gloves,and wearing glasses were the protective factors.CONCLUSIONS It plays the vital role to reduce occupational exposure to HBV that the medical staff should reduce injury in work,vaccinate the HBV vaccine,use protection goods and raise the protection consciousness.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of principal-subordinate acupoints combination on improving myocardial ischemia, and the gene regulatory pathways for the protection of myocardial ischemia.

METHODSAccording to the random number table method, 70 SPF Wistar male rats were divided into a normal group, a model group, a LY294002 group, an insulin-like growth factors-1(IGF-1) group, a Neiguan group, an acupoint combination group and an acupoint combination + LY294002 group, 10 rats in each one. Rats in the normal group were injected with 0.9% NaCl solution, while rats in the remaining groups were treated with abdominal subcutaneous injection of isoroterenol hydrochloride to establish the rat model of myocardial ischemia. Rats in the LY294002 group and IGF-1 group were treated with injection of LY294002 solution and IGF-1 solution for 14 days. Rats in the Neiguan group were treated with electroacupuncture (EA) at "Neiguan" (PC 6) by using Han-200 EA apparatus for 10 min per treatment. Rats in the acupoint combination group were treated with EA at "Neiguan" (PC 6), "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Guanyuan" (CV 4) by using Han-200 EA apparatus for 10 min per treatment. Rats in the acupoint combination + LY294002 group were treated with LY294002 solution for 14 days, and EA at "Neiguan" (PC 6), "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Guanyuan" (CV 4) was given before model establishment, once a day for 21 days. EA pretreatment was given before model establishment in all acupuncture groups. The heart rate (HR) and ST segment voltage were detected before and after treatment; the myocardial pathological morphology was observed by HE staining; the expressions of P13K mRNA and Akt mRNA were tested.

RESULTSAfter modeling, HR and ST segment voltage in all intervention groups were higher than those in the normal group (all P < 0.01); after the intervention, the HR and the ST segment voltage in the acupoint combination group, IGF-1 group and IGF-1 group were improved (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), which was more significant in the acupoint combination group and Neiguan group (all P < 0.01). As for the myocardial pathological morphology, obvious myocardial ischemia was observed in the model group, and that in the LY294002 group was the most serious, and that in the acupoint combination+ LY294002 group was moderate. After intervention, the myocardial pathological damage in the IGF-1 group, Neiguan group and acupoint combination group was significant improved, which was more significant in the IGF-1 group and acupoint combination group. As for the expression of PI3K mRNA and Akt mRNA, compared with normal group, the expression of PI3K mRNA was increased in the remaining groups after modeling (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), which was more significant in the IGF-1 group and acupoint combination group (all P < 0. 01). The expression of Akt mRNA in the LY294002 group and acupoint combination + LY294002 group was reduced (P < 0. 01, P < 0.05), while that in the remaining groups was increased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), which was more significant in the IGF-1 group and acupoint combination group (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe principal-subordinate acupoints combination could improve heart rate and ST segment voltage in rats with chronic myocardial ischemia, reduce myocardial pathological damage, which is superior to single selection of "Neiguan" (PC 6). The PI3K/Akt signaling pathway may be involved in the regulation mechanism of principal-subordinate acupoints combination for the protection of chronic myocardial ischemia.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Chronic Disease ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; enzymology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar